DES MOINES, Iowa -Utah's Amanda Mergaert will be competing against the best runners in the nation this weekend at the 2013 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with berths to the IAAF World Championships on the line.

Mergaert will race in the first round of the 1500 meters on Thursday at 3:40 MT and she has a chance to qualify for the finals on Saturday at 3:45 MT. The finals will be shown live on Universal Sports. Provided they've met the relevant qualifying standard, the first three finishers in each event will represent the U.S. at the World Championships in Moscow in August.

Mergaert became only the second Ute to earn All-American honors in cross country, indoor and outdoor track as she finished third in the 1500 meter final at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Mergaert eclipsed her best time of the season by running 4:14.30 and becoming the seventh Utah outdoor track and field All-American.

Mergaert was one of five NCAA student-athletes this season to finish in the top 15 during the cross country championships and also earn All-American honors in both indoor and outdoor track. She also became the first All-American for Utah in the 1500m since 1982 (Carla Pittelkow).